Chapter 633: A kiss

As it turned out, they wouldn’t have to be thrown into the gate one by one.

One of the royal mages was actually responsible for handling that part.

Elion watched alongside the others as the woman raised both hands and shaped her mana into a series of shimmering blue platforms that gradually formed in the air, resembling a massive staircase leading all the way toward the entrance.

Once she was finished, another announcement was made, instructing everyone on exactly how they were supposed to enter the gate.

They would climb to the highest platform positioned directly in front of the entrance, then jump from there.

More importantly, they were advised to enter in groups while holding hands with the people they wanted to appear near once they reached the other side, since the teleportation points changed randomly every time the Legacy World opened.

There was still no guarantee that they would appear together, but entering while physically connected greatly increased the chances of arriving in the same general area.

They also had to time their jumps carefully.

Missing the centre of the gate and falling toward its edges would not end well.

In fact, their bodies would quite literally be sliced to ribbons by the violent spatial turbulence raging around the portal’s boundaries.

That naturally raised one rather obvious question in Elion’s mind.

How exactly did they know the gate was safe to enter now?

And naturally, Elion decided to ask.

Wendy turned toward the source of the question. Her brow rose slightly when she recognised his face.

"Elion Nova?"

A few nearby people turned toward him at the mention of his name, but Wendy paid them little attention.

Elion gave her a small nod.

"The one and only."

"As for your question, the gate is never completely safe." That earned several uneasy looks.

Wendy continued before anyone could interrupt.

"What we confirm is whether the spatial turbulence within the central passage has stabilised enough for living beings to cross. The edges remain dangerous at all times, which is why you were warned not to miss your jump."

Elion glanced toward the enormous portal again.

"And how do you test that?"

"Several ways."

Wendy gestured toward the ten experts stationed near the entrance.

"Those stationed here have been monitoring the fluctuations since the entrance manifested. We use mana probes, spatial markers, and disposable enchanted constructs to test the passage repeatedly."

She paused.

"If the constructs survive the crossing and their linked markers remain intact, then we know the central corridor is stable enough for entry."

"Fair enough... And this is consistent?"

Wendy looked toward the portal.

"The Legacy World has opened many times before. We know its patterns well enough to recognise when the entrance becomes viable. The danger is not usually the crossing itself."

Her gaze returned to the gathered entrants.

"It’s what waits on the other side."

Elion smiled.

"Sounds fun."

"Stay near the centre when you jump, keep physical contact with your group, and whatever you do, do not hesitate once you’re in the air."

Her voice carried across the gathered entrants.

"If you jump, commit."

Then she looked back at Elion one last time.

"And try not to cause too much trouble on the other side."

Elion nodded.

"And thank you for satisfying my curiosity."

Before the entrants began going through, the academy students were given one final set of instructions.

The second years would enter alongside the first years, and unfortunately, there wasn’t a single person among the second years whom Elion knew.

Though he couldn’t help but notice a couple of the second years had been glaring at him for a while now.

’Must have been friends or admirers of Liora...’

The higher years, on the other hand, would be allowed to form their groups however they pleased.

It irked Elion that he would have to be separated from Mira and the others, especially knowing that William would be around them without him there to keep an eye on him.

Still, he trusted that the second years would at least be sensible enough to stop William from doing anything foolish before Elion could find them again.

Soon, everyone watched expectantly as the seventh years stepped forward first and began ascending the glowing staircase.

They had split themselves into two groups.

From what Elion could see, Xavier and Evander had ended up in separate groups, each acting as the leader of their respective party.

Xavier’s group went first.

With the other four seventh years following closely behind him, the five of them began making their way up the shimmering blue steps toward the enormous dark gate.

The group didn’t wait for any fanfare.

They all jumped without the slightest hesitation, and their figures vanished into the gate with a wondrous whoosh, as though they had simply been sucked into its depths.

Seraphine, the other seventh-year member of the Disciplinary Committee, was part of Evander’s group.

Of course, the likes of Cedric, Magnus, the Moon twins, and Igor were all here as well, though earlier they had done little more than exchange brief nods with Elion.

Perhaps they were conflicted about everything that had happened since he left the academy.

After all, some of them were probably related in one way or another to the powerful people who had surrounded him that day in the Coliseum.

Evander and his group went next.

Just like Xavier’s group before them, they leapt into the dark portal and were swallowed without any difficulty.

As the next group began ascending the glowing staircase, this time consisting of sixth-years, Elion finally turned away.

Three beautiful figures were standing before him.

"I guess it’s time to say goodbye," Elion said, looking toward Mira, Tessa, and Isolde.

The three women nodded.

"You have everything you need?" He asked.

They nodded again.

Elion’s gaze briefly settled on Isolde. He could still see the beautiful earrings she wore to conceal her other element.

Although she had already revealed to them that she possessed two elements, she still hadn’t told anyone that she was actually a High Elf.

Elion hoped she would eventually tell him herself.

It wasn’t as though he had never kept secrets from the others before.

His attention shifted back toward Mira.

"I’ve been meaning to ask. The academy seems to have brought another healer. Whatever happened to Beatrice?"

"I can’t be sure," Mira replied, putting on a thoughtful expression. "I heard she was recalled by her family. Apparently, she’s the daughter of some noble family that recently lost its position, and they’re hoping to give her hand to a worthy house so they can regain some of the influence they lost."

Elion’s eyes narrowed.

"Is that so?"

Mira smiled knowingly, but she didn’t say anything else.

’I need to see her again,’ Elion thought, but now wasn’t the time.

To Mira, Tessa, and Isolde’s surprise, Elion suddenly stepped forward.

His hand closed around Isolde’s wrist.

"Huh!?"

He pulled her toward him.

One arm settled around her waist before he leaned down and pressed a soft, gentle kiss against her lips.

Isolde’s eyes flew wide open.

She had not expected such a shameless attack from him at all.

Her heart immediately began pounding wildly inside her chest, beating so violently that it almost felt as though it wanted to leap free.

Her body felt strangely weightless, like she was melting and floating on a soft cloud at the same time.

The warmth and softness of Elion’s lips lingered against her own, leaving her thoughts completely scattered.

Her trembling hands slowly curled into fists at her sides. Then, little by little, her fluttering eyelids closed.

And Isolde finally sank into the kiss.